The 2026 MLS regular season gets underway this weekend and below are the key storylines to look out for.
Hollywood Kickoff at the Coliseum
Star players. Massive crowd. One of North America’s most iconic sporting venues. MLS is truly back as LAFC hosts defending MLS Cup champion Inter Miami CF at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The epic clash marks the debut of Walmart Saturday Showdown and features returning global stars along with high-profile new signings like Germán Berterame (Miami) and Stephen Eustáquio (LAFC).
With an expected crowd of more than 70,000 fans, the matchup is poised to set the single-game opening week attendance record and kick off the 2026 MLS season in style.
Nine New Coaches Shake-Up MLS Sidelines
Nearly one-third of MLS clubs will begin the 2026 season with new head coaches – including several familiar faces returning to the league. One of the most notable is Atlanta United’s Tata Martino, who led the Five Stripes to an MLS Cup title in 2018 and now looks to rekindle the magic that made him a fan favorite.
Another MLS legend steps into a new role as New York Red Bulls’ Michael Bradley makes the leap to the first team after shining in MLS NEXT Pro. Bradley returns to the club where he debuted 21 years ago, bringing leadership and institutional knowledge to a new era.
Meanwhile, newcomers to MLS such as Henrik Rydström (Columbus Crew) and Matt Wells (Colorado Rapids) will aim to replicate the Year 1 success of last season’s head coaching class – Javier Mascherano and Jesper Sørensen – who met in MLS Cup.
Sunday Night Spotlight: Galaxy’s Big Reset
Few Western Conference teams underwent more significant changes this offseason than the LA Galaxy, who are looking to rebound from a disappointing 2025 campaign.
Shoring up the defense are Jakob Glesnes (2025 MLS Best XI) and Justin Haak, while João Klauss and Erik Thommy are expected to inject more creativity and firepower into the attack. With Riqui Puig sidelined for 2026 due to injury, German legend Marco Reus will be relied upon to orchestrate the midfield.
Standing in their way on Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire is Haak’s former club, New York City FC, which reached the Eastern Conference Final in Pascal Jensen’s first season. One storyline to watch under Jansen in 2026 is the continued emergence of NYCFC’s player pathway products, including Seymour Reid, Jonny Shore, and Máximo Carrizo.
Nashville, Espinoza Brings New Ambitions to 2026
B.J. Callaghan’s first full season at the helm of Nashville SC could hardly have been scripted better. The Boys in Gold lifted the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and rewrote club history books along the way, signaling a new era in Music City.
The question in the offseason became how can Nashville take another step forward? President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Mike Jacobs delivered a resounding answer, signing one of MLS’s most dynamic creators of the past five years in Cristian Espinoza. A proven creator, Espinoza, adds another dimension to an attack that was already among the league’s most dangerous.
With Hany Mukhtar pulling the strings and Sam Surridge leading the line, Nashville now boasts a trio of attackers that is one of the best in MLS. The 2026 campaign begins Saturday against the New England Revolution – and expectations in Nashville have never been higher.
